Robonaut 2 and Gloved Astronaut's Hands

The International Space Station's humanoid robot helper, Robonaut 2, reaches out to touch a gloved astronaut hand in a photo that pays tribute to Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling painting.

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Master and Servant

Credit: NASA

Robonaut 2, a dexterous, humanoid astronaut helper, will fly to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission.…Read More »

Although it will initially only participate in operational tests, upgrades could eventually allow the robot to realize its true purpose — helping spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the space station. Less «

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Robonaut 2 Flexes New Legs

Credit: NASA/JSC

NASA's Robonaut 2 flexes its newly built legs in this still from a video demonstration of the robot's new capabilities released Dec. 9, 2013.

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What Am I?

Credit: NASA

NASA's Robonaut 2 strikes a post atop its new wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site in Houston. The Centaur base…Read More »

builds off of lessons learned through the Space Exploration Vehicle, a rover for astronauts, and could allow the dexterous humanoid robot to help with the future exploration of distant planetary surfaces. Less «

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NASA’s Robonaut 2 Gets Newly Developed Legs

Credit: NASA

Robonaut 2 surpasses previous dexterous humanoid robots in strength, yet it is safe enough to work side-by-side with humans. This image shows NASA’s Robonaut…Read More »

2 with newly developed climbing legs, designed to give the robot mobility in zero gravity. With legs, Robonaut 2 will be able to assist astronauts with both hands while keeping at least one leg anchored to the station structure at all times. Image released Nov. 13, 2013. Less «

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Robonaut 2 Climbing Legs

Credit: NASA

NASA’s Robonaut 2 with the newly developed climbing legs, designed to give the robot mobility in zero gravity. Image released Nov. 13, 2013.

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Robonaut 2: Mobility in Zero Gravity

Credit: NASA

With legs, Robonaut 2 will be able to assist astronauts with both hands while keeping at least one leg anchored to the station structure at all times. Image released Nov. 13, 2013.

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Robonaut 2 Gains Climbing Legs

Credit: NASA

This image shows NASA’s Robonaut 2 with newly developed climbing legs, designed to give the robot mobility in zero gravity. With legs, Robonaut 2 will…Read More »

be able to assist astronauts with both hands while keeping at least one leg anchored to the station structure at all times. Image released Nov. 13, 2013. Less «

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Robonaut 2: New Climbing Legs

Credit: NASA

Robonaut 2 surpasses previous dexterous humanoid robots in strength, yet it is safe enough to work side-by-side with humans. It is able to lift, not just…Read More »

hold, this 20-pound weight (about four times heavier than what other dexterous robots can handle) both near and away from its body. This image shows NASA’s Robonaut 2 with newly developed climbing legs, designed to give the robot mobility in zero gravity. Image released Nov. 13, 2013. Less «

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Conqueror

Credit: NASA

The Robonaut 2, or R2, droid flexes its metal muscles in triumph while riding atop its new wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site in Houston.

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Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down

Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

A crane is used to lift the 330-pound Robonaut 2 out of its shipping container at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The robot will be placed inside…Read More »

a different packing arrangement designed for the unique demands of launch and spaceflight. Less «

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I'm the Greatest

Credit: SPACE.com/Denise Chow

Robonaut 2 flexes its 'muscles' for reporters during a final demonstration before being packed away for its upcoming launch to the International Space Station in November 2011.

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Going Mobile

Credit: NASA/JSC

Robonaut B's upper body can attach to a Segway-built robotic mobility platform (RMP) in order to drive on Earth.

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Tweets?

Credit: NASA

Robonaut 2 — or R2 for short — is now tweeting at www.twitter.com/AstroRobonaut. With the help of its team, the robot sent its first tweet on July 26.…Read More »

R2 will be traveling to the International Space Station aboard Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission. Less «

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First View From Space By Robonaut 2

Credit: NASA/JSC

The first view recorded by the camera eyes of Robonaut 2, a robot helper on the International Space Station, during the first tests of the droid on Aug.…Read More »

Robonaut Opens Switch Cover

Robonaut posted this photo on Facebook while working on the International Space Station August 23, 2012. The robot, a joint project of NASA and General…Read More »

Motors, wrote: “Switch cover has been opened by my dexterous fingers.” Less «

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AUTHOR BIO

Tariq Malik

Tariq joined Purch's Space.com team in 2001 as a staff writer, and later editor, covering human spaceflight, exploration and space science. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Google+, Twitter and on Facebook.